So after a long (5 months+) search, I finally started a job this Monday. (For anyone who wants to know for what company, I can email you about it, but am not posting it online). It is a company in a nearby city called Aubagne. To get there, I walk to the train station, about five minutes away. Then I take the train, which either takes 10 minutes or 15 depending if it stops at the in-between smaller stations.Then I have to wait for the bus. This is the most irritating part. They only have two buses in the morning that I can take, one that leaves at 8, the other that leaves at 8:40. The train gets into the station at 7:59. It doesn't take a math major to figure out that this is cutting it close. The bus takes about 20 minutes to get to my stop, from which it is another few minute walk. Total commute time, about 45 minutes.The company has about 30 people, half technicians and half engineers/secretary/commercial/directors/etc.It has been quite an adjustment getting used to the french workplace. First of all, there is the question of tu or vous?

The more familiar tu is used among friends, family, etc. It implies a familiarity and that you are on the same level. Vous is used with strangers or when there is a heirarchy involved. I started off with Vous because I didn't know, then the two other engineers in my group said that they use tu with each other. Okay, fine. So I switched to using tu. Then I am told that we should be using vous with each other, as it is a workplace. Okay, fine. So I switch back to vous. It is all very complicated, especially for someone with a language that does not have that distinction.Another thing is the sacred lunch two hours. I would rather be more of the "Get In, Get Done, Get Out, Get Home" mentality but not here. I guess I will just have to bring a book or take a long walk or something to de-stress. There are a couple of hotels nearby, and I was considering today what the price would be for a weekly room between the hours of 12 and 2. Not for any illicit liasons, but to go, watch tv, eat my lunch, and take a shower.Remind me again why I wanted a job so badly?!Okay, so this will be my last post about jobs. I don't want to get fired for writing about the workplace. Thanks everyone who has wished me luck on this quest.